Removable platen cover

ABSTRACT

A removable platen cover for a copying machine in which a top housing overlying a platen glass is releasable from the machine frame by a machine operator. Hook members extending from said housing are received in the machine frame and adapted for release independently or together to provide a hinged-cover arrangement or complete removal of the cover from the machine frame.

United States Patent Halvorsen et al.

[54] REMOVABLE PLATEN COVER [72] Inventors: Ivar N. l-lalvorsen, Rochester; George E.

Marshall, Fairport, both of NY. [73] Assignee: Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 29, 1970 21] Appl. No.: 50,496

[52] US. Cl. ..355/l28, 355/82, 355/115 [5 1] Int. Cl. ..G03b 27/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..355/25, 12, 75, 76, 78, 79,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,140,645 7/1964 Block et a]. ..355/115 X Feb. 15, 1972 Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, .lr. Assistant Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Attorney-James J. Ralabate, Norman E. Schrader and Melvin A. Klein 1 [57] ABSTRACT A removable platen cover for a copying machine in which a top housing overlying a platen glass is releasable from the machine frame by a machine operator. Hook members extending from said housing are received in the machine frame and adapted for release independently or together to provide a hinged-cover arrangement or complete removal of the cover from the machine frame.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I w 1a. a

Salger .355/113 x I PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 3.642.376

- sum 1 UF 5 INVENTORS' IVAR N. HALVORSEN GEORGE E. MARSHALL Arromvsr mzmemm 15 I912 31642. 376

SHEET 2 [IF 5 PAIENTEDFEB 15 1972 3.642.376

SHEET 3 OF 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WWW/WW6 65 as L Al I as 2 5a PATENTED FEB 15 I972 SHEET REMOVABLE PLATEN COVER This invention relates to a platen cover and more particularly to a removable cover apparatus of the type for supporting bound volumes or books as well as sheet material in an object plane of a reproduction machine and alternatively to be removed to enable the automatic feeding of document sheets.

It is usual to have reproduction machines with platen covers that are capable of accommodating both sheet material and bound volumes or books as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,638,827 or 2,737,090. With the advent of highspeed reproduction equipment, there has been an increasing demand to use automatic document-handling devices which are attachable as machine accessories as described, for example in US. Pat. No. 3,506,257 and which necessitate the removal of the platen cover.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved platen cover for a reproduction machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cover apparatus for copying sheet material and bound volumes or books and adapted for removal from a copying machine to enable automatic document handling.

These as well as other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the platen cover apparatus of the present invention arranged on a reproduction machine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the platen cover apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the platen cover apparatus;

F IG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the platen cover apparatus illustrating operation with a book to be reproduced;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the platen cover apparatus illustrating certain details of the mechanism for removing the top housing from the machine, and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 with certain parts in section to illustrate details thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a removable platen cover apparatus generally designated by the numeral 10 which receives sheet material or bound volumes and books alike to be reproduced by a suitable reproduction machine, as for example, a xerographic machine which has a control panel 12. Platen cover apparatus 10 is removable from the machine frame to present a flat surface as will be explained hereinafter.

The document information to be reproduced is placed on a transparent platen made out of glass or other suitable material and held in registration by closing the platen cover apparatus thereover which latches to the machine frame as will become more apparent. Platen glass 15 enables the document information being copied to be viewed by a photoreceptor (not shown) and is normally rectangular in shape although other configurations may be readily contemplated. While the platen glass is shown as being flat it will be appreciated that the glass 15 may also be curved. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the document material or book to be copied is normally placed face down on the platen glass and the lower side thereof illuminated by a suitable light source (not shown) during the reproduction cycle.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the platen cover apparatus comprises a boxlike top housing 21 which has an opened bottom and is made out of a suitable lightweight rubber material. Preferably, the rubber material is l-Iypalon rubber for flexibility and strength and is colored white to reflect light rays through the machine optical system. Extending from the forward side of the top housing 21 is an extended portion 23 which serves as a handle for pulling platen assembly down into copying position. At the rear side of the platen is a spring assembly which urges the platen cover apparatus in an upward position until engaging a stop 32 making an angle of between about 50 to about 80 and preferably about 70 to the horizontal. The spring assembly comprises a pair of coil springs 35 which have one end received in a pivot housing 37 pivotable on a stationary shaft 38 and the other end received in a collar member 39 secured to the machine frame. By this arrangement, the platen cover apparatus is urged in an upward position by spring members 35 acting on the pivot housing 37. When the platen cover apparatus is to be closed on a document or book positioned on the platen glass 15, a downward force must be exerted against the action of the spring members 35 until a latch member 45 engages a locking member 47 on the machine frame actuatable by a solenoid as will be explained.

Referring particularly now to FIG. 4, there is shown a diaphragm assembly which is secured to the opened bottom of top housing 21. The diaphragm assembly comprises a molded diaphragm member 53 made of I-Iypalon rubber or any other suitable material which is prestretched to fit across an inner frame member 59. Diaphragm member 53 has a thickness ranging from about 20 to about 30 mils and is stretched to about 3 to about 6 percent which enables the diaphragm member to stretch and conform to the shape of sheet material or a bound volume such as a book (FIG. 5). As a safety feature to prevent the diaphragm member from overtensioning there is an extension 55 (FIG. 2) from top housing 21 which limits the thickness of an object to be placed under the top housing to the stretch tolerances of the diaphragm member. In order to enable a lighttight fitting of the diaphragm member with the top housing 21, the diaphragm member is clamped to an inner frame 59 by self-tapping screws 65 which are received by an outer frame 62.

Also received between inner and outer frames 59 and 62 is a sealing member 63 made out of suitable elastomeric material. The diaphragm assembly is held securely in place around the side walls of the top housing by screw members 65 received in openings 68 formed in the top housing.

Control panel 12 may be programmed for the number of copies desired and then a print button pressed. At the end of the copying cycle, latch member 45 is released from locking member 47 actuated in response to a signal received by a solenoid SOL-1 and the top housing opened through the action of springs 35. It has been found that it is often desirable when the top housing is closed but before the copying sequence is commenced for the top housing to be opened as where adjustment of the document or book is necessary. To provide for this, a release button 75 is located under the extension 23 which closes a switch 77. Pressing release button to close switch 77 while the machine is in the printing cycle will have no effect due to a built-in interlock with machine control. However, the release button at any other time causes SOL-l to be energized which actuates locking member 47 to release latch member 45 thereby enabling top housing 21 to open by spring action as aforementioned. By this arrangement, the solenoid SOL-l has two modes of operation. The first mode is upon a coincidence signal which is generated by the machine control. Whenever the number of copies has been programmed and generated, the machine realizes the coincidence and generates the signal to energize the solenoid. The second mode is when the operator wishes to reposition the document or book on platen glass 15. At this time operator must press a stop print button 81 if the machine is running to stop the machine. After a slight delay, release button 75 is pressed to close switch 77 which causes the solenoid to be energized thereby raising the top housing. In this manner, there is no danger of radiation exposure to a machine operator in the vicinity of the platen cover apparatus since opening of the apparatus is prevented during the copying cycle.

In accordance with the present invention platen cover apparatus 10 is removable from the machine frame to enable automatic document-handling equipment (not shown) to be placed over the platen glass or for purpose of maintenance. To accomplish this top housing 21 has an opening 85 (FIGS. 6 and 7) formed therein to enable fingers to be inserted and a plate 87 urged upwardly against the action of springs 88 and 89. As plate 87 is moved arm members 91 and 92 connected thereto are caused to pivot first on a stub axis A and then an axis 958 which causes hook members 93 and 94 to pivot out of engagement with receiving portions in the machine frame. When this occurs, pin members 96 and 97 are urged upwardly by springs 98 and 99, respectively. Locking arms and 102 associated with pin members 96 and 97, respectively, are caused to move outwardly. This operates to cause pin members 104 and 105 to be received in cavities 107 and 108 formedin the machine frame which prevents pivot housing 37 from extending above the top surface of the platen area. At the same time, a switch 110 is actuated by locking arm 102 which closes a circuit to energize solenoid SOL-l which causes latch member 45 to disengage locking member 47. It will now be appreciated that the platen cover apparatus is completely free from the machine frame and that a flat surface remains which can be used with automatic document-handling equipment or purpose of maintenance.

While the invention has been described and illustrated herein as a preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention which is to be limited only to the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine in which document material to be reproduced is positioned on a transparent platen, an improved cover apparatus for holding the document material in copying position comprising a machine frame having a planar surface,

contiguous walls forming a top housing overlying a transparent platen, arranged on said machine frame, hook-receiving means including a hook-receiving member movable from a first position recessed below the surface of the frame to a second position thereabove hook means extending from said top housing engaging said hook-receiving means on said machineframe,

said hook means including a hand actuatable member connected to a hook portion and operative to pivot said hook portion disengaging it from said hook-receiving member said hook-receiving means including locking means operative to prevent said hook receiving member from extending above the surface of the machine frame.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including other hook- .receiving means recessed below the machine surface on the opposite side of the platen from said hook-receiving means, other hook means extending from said top housing for engaging said other hook-receiving means during a copying cycle, said other hook-receiving means being responsive to a circuit means for disengaging said other hook means upon receiving a signal generated by actuation of the hand actuatable memberv 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including spring means associated with said machine frame for urging said top housing into its noncopying position away from said platen against an abutting member at an angle from about 50 to about with the object plane.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a platen release button switch located on the top housing and coupled to machine control means for disengaging said second hook means at a predetermined time when the machine is not in copying operation. 

1. In a copying machine in which document material to be reproduced is positioned on a transparent platen, an improved cover apparatus for holding the document material in copying position comprising a machine frame having a planar surface, contiguous walls forming a top housing overlying a transparent platen, arranged on said machine frame, hook-receiving means including a hook-receiving member movable from a first position recessed below the surface of the frame to a second position thereabove hook means extending from said top housing engaging said hookreceiving means on said machine frame, said hook means including a hand actuatable member connected to a hook portion and operative to pivot said hook portion disengaging it from said hook-receiving member said hook-receiving means including locking means operative to prevent said hook receiving member from extending above the surface of the machine frame.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including other hook-receiving means recessed below the machine surface on the opposite side of the platen from said hook-receiving means, other hook means extending from said top housing for engaging said other hook-receiving means during a copying cycle, said other hook-receiving means being responsive to a circuit means foR disengaging said other hook means upon receiving a signal generated by actuation of the hand actuatable member.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including spring means associated with said machine frame for urging said top housing into its noncopying position away from said platen against an abutting member at an angle from about 50* to about 80* with the object plane.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including a platen release button switch located on the top housing and coupled to machine control means for disengaging said second hook means at a predetermined time when the machine is not in copying operation. 